Writing – Page 7 – Holy Homesteading

‘What if?’ insurance

We have car insurance and health insurance, but what about “What if?” insurance? What if your car breaks down? What if you’re laid off? What if you get seriously sick? What if your computer dies and the manuscript you’ve been working on for two years dies with it? What if you get in a carContinueContinue reading “‘What if?’ insurance”

Budgeting matters in the creative life

My husband and I recently completed Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, so together, our financial budget matters. But so does our time budget. Your grandma’s birthday is this weekend? My best friends’s birthday is next weekend and I work all day. Why does money and time matter to the creative life? We need to budgetContinueContinue reading “Budgeting matters in the creative life”

Using Maps for Plotting

I have great writing friend who is brilliant with characters. Whereas my skills lie in the plot. We could learn a lot from one another. We tried the other day and came up with a functional medium, we hope. Here goes, if you start with characters or with plot try this tactic and see ifContinueContinue reading “Using Maps for Plotting”

Got goals? Learn from the pros!

Last week we discussed #goals. This week, we’ll talk about how to achieve those goals. Here’s a simple step-by-step process that takes a lot of time and effort: Step 1: Learn from the pros. Step 2: Do what the pros do. Step 3: Achieve goal. No matter what your goals is – writing a book,ContinueContinue reading “Got goals? Learn from the pros!”

Letting Go of Perfect

Some days I’m convinced perfectionism is a shape shifter. As I edit my drafts and continue down this writing path I get more and more ‘finished’ projects. At least I think they are finished, till I read them again a week or two later. What happened to my perfect project? Why do I hate theContinueContinue reading “Letting Go of Perfect”

Life #goals

Last week I shared a post about why we want to quit and talked about how important it is to flip the question and instead think about why we are doing whatever it is we’re doing in the first place. I talked about goals a bit and I want to develop the idea that goalsContinueContinue reading “Life #goals”

Finding Your Picture Book’s Place

So you a have the most wonderful, adorable, unique idea for a picture book. Great! But what kind of picture book is it? Does it matter? Yes, it really does matter if you are planning on sending those words out into the world. First, you’ll need to decide on the age range of your story.ContinueContinue reading “Finding Your Picture Book’s Place”

Why do we want to quit?

My 6 o’clock alarm goes off and I want to roll over and skip my workout because I’m tired and hate mornings until I have coffee in my hand. Halfway through my writing project, I think it’s dumb and want to stop writing because it’s crap and I can’t imagine who would like it anyway. When I haveContinueContinue reading “Why do we want to quit?”

Using Arc Beyond Characters

I’ve talked about character before but I’m going deeper this time. Have you ever thought about giving a character like arc to things that technically are not characters? Did I just lose you? What I’m getting at is that characters are not the only ones that change within a story. At least they shouldn’t beContinueContinue reading “Using Arc Beyond Characters”

Get your creativity flowing again

When your creativity flows more like a slow trickle instead of a gushing waterfall, it’s time to rest. I could be poetic and say something like… Creativity is an ever-flowing waterfall. Whether it’s trickling or gushing, it’s always running. Until it stops… But I’m too tired for that right now. I’ve been working A LOTContinueContinue reading “Get your creativity flowing again”

The Young Adult Book Buyout

I’m a little riled up. I just saw a list circulating Twitter for young adult stories set in college. Young adult is supposed to limit the age of the characters in the book to 18. So unless you are all writing the next version of Young Sheldon Cooper I don’t know why this list exists.ContinueContinue reading “The Young Adult Book Buyout”

The power of ‘no’

Saying “no” can be powerful. As a people-pleasing, passive person, I rarely say no in real life. When I do say no to a friend or loved one, I feel super guilty about it for weeks. No, I can’t go to the movies this weekend because I have plans with my husband/mom/grandma/husband’s mom or grandma.ContinueContinue reading “The power of ‘no’”

Sacred Texts

We all have sacred texts, whether it’s a religious tome or great grandma’s written recipe cards, they have value in our minds and hearts. So what do you do when things are past their usefulness? Do you keep the sentimental notes from valentines day in hopes to create a scrapebook when you have more time.ContinueContinue reading “Sacred Texts”

Sleepless nights with my muse

When my muse keeps me up at night, nagging me to write, I realize it’s usually on the days I skip my workout. My needs to create and move are intertwined!

Dreamy Ideas

There is a sweet spot for creatives while dreaming. It occurs somewhere between just awke and barley asleep. Your dreams are vivid and you have a certain measure of control. This level of awareness in dreams is called lucid dreaming. Often when one is asleep, there is something in consciousness which declares that what thenContinueContinue reading “Dreamy Ideas”

Run with it – part 2

Long story short, run toward your goals instead of away from your failure. Literally and metaphorically.

Rooted in Non-Fiction

If you remember third grade science you know most growing things have roots. When it comes to your blooming creativity it too is rooted in something. That something is your experiences, conversations, and head knowledge. The best place for more head knowledge is the non-fiction section at your bookstore, library, or computer screen. I hearContinueContinue reading “Rooted in Non-Fiction”

Run with it – part 1

When you’re rejected or betrayed, or when you fail, you have the option to wallow or to run with it. Make the decision to run with it today to reach your goals.

Knotted: Plots & Rapunzel’s Hair

I have longer hair and on occasion (more than I’d care to admit) I don’t get a chance to brush it. While this isn’t a great place to be for my hair, it’s excellent for a story plot. No one wants to be board. No one wants to be able to guess the ending. EveryContinueContinue reading “Knotted: Plots & Rapunzel’s Hair”